Any opinions on moving to Mazatlan would be welcome!

[YaVengo]

Originally Posted by HolyMole

Sorry, YaVengo. I guess I was a tad harsh on cruiseship tourists. It must be frustrating for those wishing to see and learn something about the stops on the itinerary, when all the efforts of the onshore folks are directed at separating you from as much of your money as quickly as they can in the short time available to them. Likewise, it's hard to be too harsh on that part of the local economy that depends on cruise ships for its livelihood. However, aside from those directly involved in serving the industry, it's hard to find anyone....residents, expat residents or longer term tourists....who have anything nice to say about cruise ships.

Zihuatanejo has its own battles with "cruzeros". These monsters dominate the relatively small bay....there isn't (yet) a cruise ship pier....and on some days there are two of them out there. Disgorging 2 or 3 thousand passengers at a time into Zihua's small streets and alleys isn't a positive experience.....unless your livelihood depends on them.

Mazatlan is a large city with an economy that doesn't depend solely on the tourist trade. It has its gritty side, to be sure. A short visit of 5 or 6 hours being bussed from the port to the Golden Zone certainly wouldn't offer much of a glimpse. Most gringos reside in pleasant areas 3 or 4 miles north of "Centro", in and around the Golden Zone and north from there, up the beach. The old Centro area is quickly becoming gentrified, with prices increasing accordingly.

Thanks, HolyMole, for your helpful reply. I can understand the disdain for cruzeros. No offense taken. I would like to get to check out the less gritty side of Mazatlan.

[Ahappysoul]

First time posting! From the San Francisco Bay Area, female, retired early (50+) and wanting to know about expats living in Mazatlan. Friends and I are looking for a place to live out of the USA part of the year or full-time. Speak Spanish and have been to Mexico many times. This time coming for 1 day with a friend by.....a horror to some.... cruise ship:-)
Anyone want to meet us and go for coffee at their favorite expat hangout and give us their opinion?

[RVGRINGO]

If you choose Mazatlan, or any other coastal city, for the winter, you'll be OK. Few expats can tolerate the heat and humidity the rest of the year and have 'summer homes' inland at higher elevations. In fact, we had lunch with two couples who tried living on the coast permanently. One couple has now moved back to Lake Chapala and the other is desperately waiting for their home to sell so that they can relocate away from the coastal weather.
We maintain that it is better to live in an area where you need neither heat nor air conditioning and where you can enjoy being outside any day of the year. The coast is a place where we go for a week in the winter and share a rented beach house, condo or small hotel with friends. Even then, a week is enough. Diehard fishermen can drive to the coast in 4.5 hours, fish for a couple of days when their favorite fish are abundant, and return.

[Ahappysoul]

Thanks RVGRINGO. Heat + humidity can be miserable. Are there many expats living in Mazatlan full-time? Do you and why and when did you move there?

[RVGRINGO]

No, we don't live in Mazatlan and can only enjoy that area in mid-winter. Even then, it can be a bit warm for those of us who are accustomed to about 74F. We live at Lake Chapala, 7.5 hours SE of Mazatlan and at 5100 feet altitude, surrounded by 8000 feet peaks. We're just south of Guadalajara.

By the way, Roger123 has been banned, so your question to him is now moot.